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Shaping a business-friendly cityThe Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan December 2013

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Contents

Summary•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3

A business-friendly and well-functioning Auckland•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 5

Smarter tools, simpler rules•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 6

E-Plan••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 6

Streamlined regulation••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 6

Shaping Auckland for economic growth•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7

Space to grow•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 8

Better design•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 10

Special Housing Areas•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 10

Investing for growth•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 11

Transport •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 12

The 10 business zones•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 14

Opportunities created by change••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 15

Transforming Auckland Council•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 16

The next steps••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 17

THE PROPOSED AUCKLAND

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Summary: Delivering opportunity and economic prosperity

Economic growth is one of the main drivers of the 30-year Auckland Plan vision to create the world’s most liveable city. This is about focusing on innovation, building international connections, growing skills, developing a more creative and vibrant city and being more business-friendly.

The 10-year Economic Development Strategy (EDS) sets out the actions to deliver on these aims, but Auckland’s economic success also relies on the way it grows physically: its centres, business areas, commercial and industrial space and the quality of its buildings and public spaces.

This physical growth is governed by the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan (PAUP). The PAUP will replace the disparate legacy plans

of the former regional and local authorities of Auckland, many of which are already more than a decade old. As the PAUP progresses it will carry more legal ‘weight’ in planning decisions. While the PAUP is often described as the ‘rule book’, it is also, from an economic development point of view, a highly valuable investment signal to individuals, business and investors.

The PAUP is a statutory, enabling document. It sets the objectives, policies and planning rules for Auckland to be able to grow in a way that unlocks its potential, creating an environment where businesses can grow and prosper. In short, it enables the setting for growth, and therefore works alongside a range of other council policies and strategies.

Good quality design is key to creating an economically stronger and more vibrant city.

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The PAUP proposes a simpler and more consistent set of rules across Auckland that set out what can be built and where. It aims to achieve the Auckland Plan directives to become a higher-quality and more efficient and compact city. A city with greater agglomeration•benefits;•with•more•people•closer•to•more•jobs;•which•safeguards existing business land and secures more•for•the•future;•and•which•creates•the•better-designed and more vibrant centres across Auckland that will attract businesses to invest and the brightest talent to live and work.

The plan sets out a regional policy statement to guide Auckland’s growth – including enabling economic wellbeing and quality urban growth, as well as safeguarding the things that help make Auckland special. Auckland’s environment, coastlines and culture are a core part of Auckland’s global competitive advantage and point of difference with other world cities.

While the Unitary Plan covers many issues of importance for economic growth, it does not cover the full breadth of business engagement

activities and actions proposed in the EDS. Nor does it set out council investment plans – those are in the Long-term Plan (see graphic). Instead, it aims to enable growth to be focused in those areas where there is existing or planned infrastructure – public transport, freight routes, broadband, utilities, water and wastewater. This makes the investment go further and developments more economically viable. By enabling•Auckland•to•be•more•efficient•and•liveable, it aims to secure its longer-term economic success.

Auckland Council’s role is to lead the vision, develop appropriate regulation, plan and invest in infrastructure to enable Auckland’s businesses, landowners, institutions and people to do what they do best.

This document sets out the plan’s aims to enable a more business-friendly city, along with the challenge to businesses to embrace the opportunities provided by the new Unitary Plan to help create a successful and prosperous Auckland.

LOCAL BOARD PLANS

LOCAL BOARD AGREEMENTSAnnual budgets of 21 Local Boards

3-year plans of 21 Local Boards

UNITARY PLAN LONG-TERM PLAN

PLACE-BASED PLANS

CORE STRATEGIES

MAYOR’S VISION

AUCKLAND PLAN

Policies and rules to implement the Auckland Plan

Council’s 10-year plan and budget for•2012-2022;•and•Annual Plan (2012)

30-year vision and strategy for Auckland

Creating the world’s most liveable city

E.g. Local Economic Development Plans, Local Area Plans, City Centre Masterplan and Waterfront Plan

E.g. Economic Development Strategy, Waste Management & Minimisation Strategy

The framework for managing Auckland’s growth

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INNOVATION HUB OF

ASIA-PACIFIC RIMINTERNATIONALLY

CONNECTED,

EXPORT-DRIVENGROW SKILLS

&

LOCAL WORKFORCE

VIBRANT, CREATIVE

INTERNATIONAL CITYBUSINESS-FRIENDLY,

WELL-FUNCTIONING

SUSTAINABLEECO-ECONOMY

IWI/MA-ORI ECONOMIC

POWERHOUSE

INNOVATIVE RURAL &MARITIME ECONOMY

DIVERSE ETHNIC ECONOMY

DEVELOP AN ECONOMY THAT DELIVERS OPPORTUNITY AND PROSPERITY FOR ALL AUCKLANDERS AND NEW ZEALAND

REGIONAL EXPORTS REAL GDP

A business-friendly and well-functioning Auckland

The Auckland Plan and the EDS adopt international consultants Greg Clark and Joe Huxley’s•definition•of•business-friendly:

“Explicit attempts to reduce the barriers, costs, risks and uncertainties of all forms of commercial activity to stimulate and support local business growth, local business retention, and the attraction of new business to the local area.” (G. Clark and J. Huxley, Business Friendly Cities: City Government and the Local Business Growth and Investment Climate, September 2011.)

The challenge, as set out in the Auckland Plan, is to accommodate over the next 30 years:

•• up to 275,000 new jobs

•• up to one million more people

•• at least 1,400 hectares of additional business land

•• an average expected demand for 13,000 new dwellings per year.

The PAUP sets the rules to help Auckland meet this growth challenge, while enabling the vision and•achievement•of•the•five•priorities•set•out•by•the EDS (see below).

Achieving the ambitious economic targets in the EDS would mean that Auckland’s economy would improve 20 places in 20 years in current OECD GDP per capita rankings.

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Smarter tools, simpler rules

E-Plan

Developing one plan for the whole of Auckland is a major undertaking, but it is essential for making our planning system more effective, more efficient and easier to understand. Many of the 14 existing district and regional plans that the Unitary Plan will eventually replace are already more than a decade old.

Auckland Council has delivered both the draft and the proposed plans as electronic e-Plans for the text, with a GIS map viewer for the planning maps. In addition, the PAUP comes with a ‘planning enquiry’ tool to help quickly identify•the•rules•that•apply•to•a•specific•property. These electronic tools put the PAUP at•the•fingertips•of•businesses,•landowners•and•residents,•making•it•much•more•efficient•and•relatively straightforward to work with, despite its complexity and size.

This•method•is•a•first•for•Auckland•Council•and•has never been done on this scale anywhere else in New Zealand. Hard-copy versions of the plan and the planning maps are still available and are deposited at every council library in Auckland.

Streamlined regulation

The PAUP provides a more simplified and streamlined approach to current land-use planning regulations, making it easier for businesses to navigate. It offers Aucklanders – especially landowners and developers – a much more consistent framework for development, with greater clarity about what can and can’t be done.

The PAUP consolidates the many different zones that exist in the current, operative plans into a smaller set of zones, overlays and precincts. For example, it reduces the current set of 99 residential zones to six, and 44 business zones to 10.

In addition, it provides stronger regional objectives and policies governing urban and rural activity, and proposes much greater certainty on•issues•such•as•notification•and•density•controls. It also provides more robust design criteria, with supporting guidance given in the Auckland Design Manual.

Stronger clustering and agglomeration of businesses will drive productivity and innovation.

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Shaping Auckland for economic growth

The Auckland Plan sets out the following key principles for enabling economic growth, which the PAUP needs to deliver.

•• Plan•and•provide•for•sufficient•business-zoned•land and infrastructure.

•• Strengthen Auckland’s network of metropolitan, town, local and neighbourhood centres so they are well-connected and meet community needs for jobs, housing, and goods and services, at a variety of scales.

•• Use parking standards and innovative parking mechanisms to help achieve the compact city goal.

•• Centres should be the primary focus for retail and other commercial activity.

•• Develop and manage business areas to complement centres, without undermining their role and function in the centres network, and to provide for a diversity of opportunities for business and employment growth.

•• Demand good design in all development.

The PAUP looks at enabling better-quality and higher-density development to achieve a more vibrant,•efficient•and•attractive•Auckland,•with•significant•benefits•for•long-term•economic•growth.

Productivity and innovation driven by clustering and agglomeration

Coordinated infrastructure investment to support areas

of growth

Businesses closer or more accessible to their customers

and employees

A place where talented young

people choose to stay, live and work

Safeguarding natural

advantages: environment and heritage

Transport links that help supply chain efficiency

Hubs that make public transport

and other infrastructure

investment more viable

Safeguarding existing

business land and opening up

new areas

Centres and business areas

that attract new and continued

investment

A•vibrant,•efficient•and•attractive•Auckland

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Space to grow

The PAUP sets out a series of issues facing Auckland, along with policies and methods to manage these. In particular, the plan includes a focus on increasing Auckland’s capacity for growth, noting that:

At current growth rates, we face a shortage of business-zoned land, which is a problem for land-extensive industries, such as manufacturing, transport and storage, construction, and wholesale trade. These activities face pressure from higher value activities including retail, service sectors and, in some places, residential growth. If Auckland•is•to•continue•to•benefit•from•employment and GDP associated with land-extensive industry, then we need to provide for the future growth of these activities and support them with a transport infrastructure delivering•efficient•movement•of•freight.•[PAUP Part 1, Chapter B, Section 1.2 ‘Enabling economic wellbeing’]

The PAUP enables:

•• the potential for up to 270m square metres of•additional•business•floor•space•within•the•existing•urban•area;•and

•• an•increase•of•15,500ha•(gross)•of•new•greenfield•land, which will provide up to 1400ha (net) of required•future•business•land•as•identified•in•the•Auckland Plan.

The future areas for growth in the PAUP are identified•by•a•Future•Urban•zone,•giving•greater•certainty of where growth will happen over the coming decades. Land will be released as infrastructure needs are planned and provided for.

These zones are grouped with three broad geographic areas highlighted within the PAUP (see maps below). The council will need to do more detailed prioritisation and structure planning work to•assess•the•location,•size•and•timing•of•specific•business land to be provided within the Future Urban zone. As a guide to the extent of possible development in these areas, indicative housing and jobs•figures•are•shown•–•see•below:

South

Potential for:

•• 33,000-42,000 additional dwellings

•• 35,000 additional jobs

North-West

Potential for:

•• 12,000-14,000 additional dwellings

•• 13,000 additional jobs

 

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In addition, the proposed plan is explicit about safeguarding existing industrial land for industrial uses, as well as further restrictions through overlays to prevent residential development near heavy industry areas. This is critical to ensure Auckland effectively manages its current resource of business land.

Warkworth and Silverdale

Potential for:

•• 16,000-20,000 additional dwellings

•• 11,000 additional jobs

 

 

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Better design

It was clear from feedback on the March 2013 draft of the Unitary Plan that Aucklanders want better-quality new buildings and public spaces. Achieving this will have a key impact on making Auckland a better place to do business. Creating more attractive, well-designed business places•that•are•more•compact•and•efficient•is•an important step in attracting new businesses, highly-skilled employees and more customers.

The proposed plan is supported by the non-statutory Auckland Design Manual, which sets practical guidance for meeting the rules, with buildings that are well-designed, sustainable and economically viable. It is a live document, so ongoing input is being sought. Currently it only covers residential development, but in future guidance for retail, commercial and industrial activity will be included. Find out more at www.aucklanddesignmanual.co.nz

Special Housing Areas

Through the council’s partnership with central government and the recently agreed Housing Accord, the Unitary Plan has status as adopted policy when processing consents within Special Housing•Areas•(SHAs).•This•reflects•the•focus•on•the housing supply-side of growth and tackling Auckland’s problems with housing affordability. It also gives developers certainty around provisions and fast-track consenting. Under the fast-track•mechanisms,•approvals•for•greenfield•developments must be within six months and•within•three•months•for•brownfield•sites.•Approvals had previously averaged three years and one year respectively.

You•can•find•out•more•on•the•council’s•website.

Market attractiveness of areas will be enhanced through a combination of well-designed development, and coordinated place-based investment.

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Investing for growth

Auckland Council has set out plans for the greatest investment in infrastructure the city has ever seen. It is double the levels seen in the last few years of the former legacy councils. These•are•being•funded•through•efficiency•savings of the business (about $145m a year so far) and borrowing for long-term capital projects.

As part of the central government’s “Better Local Government” reforms, a new requirement for a 30-year infrastructure strategy is being introduced in time for the 2015 Long-term Plan.

The result is a rapidly growing set of opportunities across the city. Areas that are considered less market-attractive now could quickly change as new and better transport facilities, improved public and open spaces and

higher-quality social amenities are developed. Over the 30-year horizon of the Auckland Plan, the changes will be dramatic. Children born today will be catching the train to work with little memory of an Auckland without the City Rail Link.

The challenge for the PAUP is to enable business and housing growth to make the most of the opportunities•that•this•investment•provides;•in•turn this makes the investment more viable, by ensuring that more people and businesses are able•to•benefit•from•it.•

This needs to be a partnership. Market perceptions and activity will shift through a combination of well-designed quality development by the private sector, and coordinated place-based investment by the public sector.

Attractive business spaces help attract high-calibre employees and further economic investment.

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Significant•investment•in•Auckland’s•transport•system has occurred over the past decade and will•continue•into•the•future.•By•2016•a•new•fleet•of electric trains will be operating on Auckland’s rail network, supported by a revamped bus network, integrated ticketing and integrated public transport fares across all modes of travel.

In 2017 the Waterview Connection will be opened, completing the Western Ring Route and offering an alternative to State Highway 1 as well as a direct motorway link between the Airport and the City Centre. The AMETI/East-West Link is a major investment in improving accessibility and connectivity for all modes of travel over the next decade – whether freight, cars or public transport. Early stages of AMETI are nearing completion, including a new Panmure train station and a new link road from Mt Wellington to Glen Innes that bypasses the busy Panmure roundabout and offers•significant•travel•time•savings.•

The•Unitary•Plan•focuses•intensification•in•areas around train stations or within walking distance of frequent public transport – to support the•efficiency•of•those•services•and•to•enable•residents living in higher-density areas to have a wider choice of transport options.

Proposed transformational projects such as the City Rail Link and the AMETI/East-West Link also support – and are supported by – the Unitary Plan’s direction of growth towards areas with good transport access, for people and freight. For example, the City Rail Link will cut rail travel times from many parts of Auckland to the city centre by 10 to 15 minutes – making areas close to rail much more accessible to central Auckland than they are currently.

There is now broad agreement on the key transport projects needed to enable Auckland’s growth. As well as the ones mentioned above, these include protecting the route for an additional Harbour Crossing, widening the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Papakura, improving the Northern Busway and investing in roading improvements to better link Auckland to Northland and Waikato. This agreement – highlighted by government announcements in June 2013 – is essential in providing businesses with greater certainty about Auckland’s•future.•To•find•out•more•about•long-term transport investment, view the Integrated Transport Programme on the Auckland Transport website.

A•more•compact,•efficient•Auckland•will•help•make•public•transport•and•other•infrastructure•more•viable.

Transport

Proposed Unitary PlanLocation of Business Land and Transport Connections

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 m

Created Date: 29 Nov 2013Scale @ A4: 1:400,000Projection: NZTMDatum: NZGD2000File Name: BusinessMap.mxd´

This map/plan is illustrative only and all information should be independently verified on-site before taking any action. While due care has been taken, Auckland Council gives no warranty for the accuracy andcompleteness of any information on this map/plan and accepts no liability for any error, omission or use of the information. The draft Auckland Council Unitary Plan is strictly for the purposes of discussion and consultation.

The Proposed Auckland Unitary PlanNotified September 30, 2013

MotorwayArterial RoadsUnitary Plan Business ZonesUnitary Plan Industrial ZonesUnitary Plan Future Urban Zone

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City centre zone Applies to Auckland’s central business district and surrounding areas, including the waterfront and coastal marine area to the north, and Karangahape Road to the south.

Metropolitan centre zone Applies to 10 centres located around Auckland, which will act as hubs for high-frequency public transport.

Town centre zone Applies to suburban centres throughout Auckland, the satellite centres of Warkworth and Pukekohe, and the rural towns of Helensville and Wellsford.

Local centre zone Applies to a large number of small centres throughout Auckland.

Neighbourhood centre zone Refers to single corner stores or small shopping strips in residential neighbourhoods.

Mixed Use zone Typically located around centres and along high-frequency public transport routes, and provides for residential as well as smaller scale commercial activity.

General Business zone Provides for business activities that may not be appropriate for or are unable to locate in centres, including light industrial and large-format retail activities.

Business Park zone Provides•locations•for•large•office-type•business•activities•in•a•park•or campus-like landscaped environment and is primarily designed to recognise existing business parks.

Light Industry zone Includes light manufacturing, production, logistics, storage, transport and distribution activities.

Heavy Industry zone Provides for industrial activities that may produce objectionable odour, dust and noise emissions.

For more detail on the zones, please refer to the Business Centres factsheet on the council website.

The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan follows a centres-based strategy, encouraging more retail and•office•development•within•centres•where•they can take advantage of the high-quality amenities, transport links and ready availability to customers and staff.

This greater activity within centres will go on to attract further public and private investment and more people, with areas becoming more vibrant and secure through increased social activity and interaction. This will also support greater use of public transport, which in turn will help to manage demand on Auckland’s busy

roads, where currently so much of the city’s potential•productivity•is•lost•in•traffic•jams.

Industrial zoned land provides employment opportunities and scope for manufacturing, assembly, packaging, wholesale or storage of products or the processing of raw materials. The two industrial zones are Heavy Industry and Light Industry, with the Heavy Industry zone catering for activities that need to emit higher levels of noise, dust or odour.

Overall, the proposed plan reduces the number of business zones from 44 to 10. These are:

The 10 business zones

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0  

50,000  

100,000  

150,000  

200,000  

250,000  

2006   2011   2016   2021   2026   2031  

Couple  without  children  

Couple  with  children  

One  person  household  

Single  parent  with  children  

In the meantime, employment will continue to increase, with some sectors projected to see growth of at least 10,000 jobs over the coming two decades: Business services, Health and community services, Education, Construction, Retail and Accommodation, restaurants and bars.

Projected employment growth in selected industries

Projected household types in Auckland

Opportunities created by change

Auckland is already a successful, growing city. While the biggest contributor to its population increase is births, it is also boosted by New Zealanders coming from elsewhere in the country, Aucklanders returning from overseas or people moving here for the opportunities and lifestyle Auckland offers. These people bring their experiences, expertise and skills.

At the same time, Auckland’s demographics are changing – and therefore so are its housing needs. People are living longer, and there is a growing proportion of people who live alone or in smaller households. Within a few years,

households with families are set to be overtaken by households with just one or two people (see below). This is creating strong demand not only for more homes, but also for a greater choice of housing types for different ages and stages of life and for different budgets.

This•is•a•significant•change•that•the•Unitary•Plan•needs to address and to enable – and with that come further opportunities for developers to create new types of housing, with more people living closer to the key employment zones. This will in turn help create centres that are economically stronger, and more fun and vibrant.

-

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

180,000

2011 2016 2021 2026 2031

Business services

Retail trade

Health and community services

Education

Construction

Accommodation, restaurants and bars

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Transforming Auckland Council

Auckland Council is transforming the way it works, with a series of projects focused on helping it become more business-friendly, improving customer experience and evolving into a high-performance organisation. This work is critical to ensuring the council is better-placed to deliver the Auckland Plan and value for money for ratepayers: from quick improvements to programmes addressing region-wide issues.

The focus on becoming more business-friendly includes continuous improvements to the council

website to make it easier, faster and better for businesses to interact through digital channels. The•council•has•made•it•easier•to•find•building•and property information and added a business and economy page. Other improvements include the key account regulatory service for major developers and the proposed investment centre.

Stay in touch with the council’s progress on creating a more business-friendly Auckland through the council website.

Well-serviced centres make businesses more accessible to their customers and employees.

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The next steps

The•Proposed•Auckland•Unitary•Plan•was•released•for•notification•on•30•September•2013.•It•is•important businesses have their say on the plan – the areas they support as well as where there are elements they want to change. Submissions close on 28 February 2014.

Some elements of the plan already have legal weight. Generally these are the rules that safeguard Auckland’s•environment•or•heritage•–•as•required•by•the•Resource•Management•Act.•You•can•find•out•more about what rules already apply online.

The proposed plan, interactive maps, associated information and the online submission form may be viewed on the council’s website.

The online pages include a range of factsheets to provide more readily accessible information on local areas as well as detail on some of the key issues. These detailed factsheets include:

Development of the draft

Auckland Unitary Plan, with key stakeholders

and community groups

March 2013 draft of the plan

released for 11-week public

engagement

Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan notified

for submissions 30 September 2013 -

28 February 2014

Further submissions

mid 2014

Hearings Release of decisions

Appeals Auckland Unitary Plan

becomes operative

Feedback assessed: elected

members discuss and

agree changes

NOW

Step-by-step

Urban areas•• Auckland’s centres (including

maximum heights)•• Terrace housing and

apartment building (THAB) zones

•• Mixed housing urban and suburban zones

•• Single house zone•• Large lot zone•• Special purpose and major

recreation facilities zone•• Business centres•• Public open space

Further building rules•• Sustainable building design•• Volcanic viewshafts•• Legal effect

Rural areas•• Rural Urban Boundary•• Rural and coastal settlement

zone•• Rural land use zones•• Rural subdivision•• Future urban zone

Education•• Special purpose school zone

Environment and heritage•• Significant•ecological•areas•• Natural character areas•• Mangroves•• Freshwater•• Stormwater•quality•and•flows•• Vegetation management•• Historic heritage and special

character areas

Mana whenua•• Treaty of Waitangi•• Mana whenua - cultural

impact•• Mana whenua - cultural

heritage

Transport and infrastructure•• Cycle parking•• Vehicle access restrictions•• Traffic•generation•• Parking associated with

development•• Electricity transmission

corridor overlay

Planning for the future•• Structure plan•• Affordable housing

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Find out more: phone 09 301 0101 or visit www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/unitaryplan